Is Oakbrook Safe, Pros and cons of living in Oakbrook

Oak Brook, a suburb of Chicago, offers a blend of upscale living with a strong sense of community, making it an attractive destination for those seeking a refined lifestyle. The village is known for its well-maintained neighborhoods, excellent schools, and proximity to major employment centers, all contributing to its desirability.

This community provides a unique living experience, balancing suburban tranquility with convenient access to urban amenities. Residents often appreciate the high quality of life, coupled with a stable economic environment and a commitment to preserving the area’s natural beauty.

Is it Safe to Live in Oak Brook?

Oak Brook presents a complex picture regarding safety, with varying crime rates depending on the specific area within the village. The overall crime rate is reported to be higher than the national average, with a significant portion attributed to property crimes. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Oak Brook can range from 1 in 14 in some neighborhoods to 1 in 51 in others, with the east part of the city generally considered the safest (as reported by AreaVibes and NeighborhoodScout).

While the overall crime rate is a concern, it’s important to note that violent crime rates in Oak Brook are substantially lower than the national average. The village’s crime rate is 32.91 per 1,000 residents in a typical year, and the chance of being a victim of a violent crime is about 1 in 1638 (as reported by NeighborhoodScout and AreaVibes). The zip code 60523, which covers much of Oak Brook, has an overall crime index of 94, indicating it is 6% below the national average, with violent crime at 28% below the national average and property crime 34% below the national average (as reported by DoorProfit).

Cost of Living and Housing

Housing Costs

The cost of living in Oak Brook is significantly higher than both the national and state averages, largely driven by its housing expenses. Housing costs in Oak Brook are approximately 337% higher than the national average (as reported by Payscale). The median home value in Oak Brook is reported to be $716,654 (as of Livability.com’s data), while Zillow indicates an average home value of $966,776, up 11.2% over the past year (as of March 31, 2026) (as reported by Zillow). The median listing price is $832,000, with a median rent of $4,287 per month (as reported by realtor.com®).

Rental prices in Oak Brook are also considerably above the national average. The median rent for all bedroom counts and property types is $2,075 as of April 2026, which is 6% higher than the national average (as reported by Zumper). However, other sources suggest a higher average rent of $5,750, with a price range from $3,300 to $30,000 (as reported by Zillow). Apartments.com indicates an average rent of $2,752 per month, which is 68% higher than the national average (as reported by Apartments.com).

Overall Cost of Living

Oak Brook’s overall cost of living is substantially higher than the national average, with some sources stating it is 100% higher than the national average (as reported by AreaVibes). Payscale reports that Oak Brook’s cost of living is 81% higher than the national average, with housing expenses being the primary driver. Utility prices are slightly lower than the national average, but transportation and grocery costs are higher (as reported by Payscale).

Monthly expenses for a single person in Oak Brook are estimated at $2,761, and for a family of four, they are around $6,112, making it one of the more expensive cities in the U.S. (as reported by Salary.com). This high cost of living is influenced by elevated housing, transportation, and food prices (as reported by Salary.com).

Economic Landscape

Job Market and Major Employers

Oak Brook boasts a robust job market, serving as a hub for numerous corporate headquarters and major businesses. Top employers in the area include Oakbrook Center with approximately 7,000 employees, Advocate Health Care with 1,853 employees, and Ace Hardware with 1,056 employees (as reported by Wikipedia). Other significant employers are Hub Group, Chamberlain Group, and Blistex (as reported by Wikipedia).

Employment in Oak Brook has seen a slight decline, with a decrease of 1.85% from 2023 to 2024. The most common employment sectors for residents are Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services. Key job roles include management occupations, health diagnosing and treating practitioners, and education instruction and library occupations (as reported by Data USA).

Salaries and Unemployment

The average salary in Oak Brook, Illinois, is approximately $73,081 per year, or $35 per hour (as reported by ERI SalaryExpert). The median household income is reported to be $175,870 (as reported by Data USA and AreaVibes), which is significantly higher than the national average. The unemployment rate in Oak Brook is noted to be 2% lower than the national average (as reported by AreaVibes).

Nationally, the Illinois unemployment rate was 5.10% as of March 2026, lower than the long-term average of 6.69% (as reported by YCharts). In February 2026, the unemployment rate in Illinois was 5%, a slight increase from the previous month, and higher than the U.S. overall rate (as reported by USAFacts).

Climate and Environment

Temperature and Weather Patterns

Oak Brook experiences a climate with significant temperature swings throughout the year. Summers are warm and can be wet, with average daytime temperatures reaching around 86°F in July. Winters are cold, snowy, and windy, with average daily low temperatures dropping to around 19°F in January (as reported by Time and Date and Oak Brook Climate).

The warmest month is July, with average highs around 83°F and lows around 66°F. The coldest month is January, with average highs around 32°F and lows around 19°F (as reported by Oak Brook Climate). Temperature variations between day and night are moderate in summer and more limited in winter (as reported by IDcide).

Rainfall and Precipitation

Oak Brook receives a substantial amount of precipitation annually, averaging around 40 inches, which includes rain and the liquid equivalent of snow (as reported by myPerfectWeather and Oak Brook Climate). The wettest month is typically June, with approximately 125 mm (4.9 inches) of precipitation over about 15 rainy days (as reported by Oak Brook Climate). January is the driest month, with about 52 mm (2 inches) of precipitation over 13 days (as reported by Oak Brook Climate).

The climate is characterized as partly cloudy year-round, with significant seasonal variation in monthly rainfall. The wet season generally lasts from late March to early October, while the drier season extends from early October to late March (as reported by Oak Brook Climate).

Education and Demographics

School Ratings and Performance

Oak Brook is served by highly-rated public schools, with Butler School District 53 earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranking 6th out of 811 districts in Illinois (as reported by SchoolDigger.com). Brook Forest Elementary School is a standout, consistently ranking among the top elementary schools in Illinois. In the 2024-2025 school year, Brook Forest Elementary reported 73% math proficiency and 72% reading proficiency (as reported by Niche).

Butler Junior High School also demonstrates strong academic performance, with 91.9% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 82% in Mathematics for the 2024-2025 school year. However, the district has higher than average chronic absenteeism rates, at 25.4% for both Brook Forest Elementary and Butler Junior High (as reported by SchoolDigger.com).

Population and Demographics

Oak Brook has a population of approximately 8,056 residents (as of 2024), with a projected population of 8,048 for 2026. The village is growing at a slow rate of about 0.12% annually (as reported by Oak Brook Demographics and Oak Brook, Illinois Population 2026). The median age in Oak Brook is 55.2 years, with a slightly older demographic, as 35.5% of residents are 65 or older (as reported by Wikipedia and Oak Brook Demographics).

The racial composition of Oak Brook is diverse, with White residents making up approximately 59.3%, followed by Asian residents at 32.7%, and Hispanic residents at 5.7% (as reported by Oak Brook Demographics). Of the residents, 96.4% are citizens, a rate higher than the national average (as reported by Data USA).